The magic of Campeche’s Ruta de Los Chenes
Inspired by the idea of La Ruta Puuc, we present our very own archaeological circuit in the state of Campeche. We call it La Ruta de Los Chenes.
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The Ancient City of Dzibilnocac and its Great Towers
Dzibilnocac is located in the Chenes region, “wells” in Yucatec Mayan, which begins south of the Puuc valley and hill range, an area dominated by cities like Uxmal and Kabah. Like many sites in this region, Dzibilnocac displays a wide range of architectural influences, including Chenes, Puuc, and Río Bec styles. While combinations of architectural…
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Aké Yucatan: The Long and Storied History of Mexico’s Place of Reeds
Meaning “place of reeds” in Yucatec Maya, Aké Yucatan is 32 kilometers / 20 miles from Mérida in the municipality of Tixkokob. Just a few years ago, the dirt road and overgrown vegetation leading to Aké made the trek rough for most vehicles and their paint jobs. Thankfully, there is now a proper road, and…
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The Mysterious Lord Pakal of Chichén Itzá and the Secrets of the Casa ColoradaWhy la casa colorada is the most important temple in Chichen Itzá nobody talks about
Beyond the areas where most tourists venture in Chichén Itzá, lies a lesser-known but fascinating architectural complex dedicated to the ruler: K’inich Janaab’ Pakal. No, not the legendary Pakal the Great of Palenque — this is a different king whose legacy is etched into the red-painted walls of the enigmatic Casa Colorada. This structure, also…
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How the ‘Star Wars’ Between Calakmul and Tikal Changed the Maya World ForeverCalakmul VS Tikal, the conflict that defined an era.
The multi-generational conflict between the Mayan cities of Tikal and Calakmul, referred to as the “Star Wars,” was a series of intense political and military struggles during the later centuries of the Classic Period (250–900 CE). These wars were not just between Calakmul and Tikal but involved a network of alliances and proxy conflicts with…
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Tikal Before Dawn: New Perspectives, Things That Go Bump in the Night, and the Sublime
There is something profound about standing atop Tikal’s famed Temple IV as the first light of dawn breaks over the jungle canopy. A sunrise expedition to Tikal, Guatemala’s most iconic archaeological site, is more than just another tour — it’s an experience that stays with you. But things do not start there, and like anything…
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Teotihuacán: The Enigmatic City at the Center of the Universe
The grandeur of Teotihuacán is hard to overstate, and it’s easy to see why the famed Aztecs thought the great city lay at center of the universe
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Xcaret, Mayan archaeology in a Disneyland setting
Xcaret is a Mayan archaeological site located on the Caribbean coast within the privately owned theme park of the same name. In the Yucatec-Mayan language, xcaret means “small inlet.” But in antiquity, the name of the port city was p’ole’, which was derived from the root p’ol, which means “merchandise” or “deal of merchants.”
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The mysterious past and unique architecture of Cahal Pech
Sitting atop a natural hill high above the banks above the confluence of the Macal and Mopan rivers lay the ruins of one of Belize’s most ancient and unique archaeological sites.
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Chichén Viejo will make you fall in love with Chichén Itzá all over again
Walking through Chichén Viejo’s arch, the splendor and scope of the site begins to come into focus
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Beyond Templo Mayor, the archaeological riches of Mexico City
Mexico City is famous for its world-class museums, excellent cuisine, and vibrant nightlife. However, as anyone who has even skimmed the history of this megalopolis knows, its roots trace back further than any other city on its scale in North America. Well before there was Mexico City, also known as CDMX, there was the mighty…
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Guided tours of Mexico for this fall and winter
We are pleased to announce three upcoming tours guided by Carlos Rosado van der Gracht for the fall/winter season. The experiences range from excursions to uncover Mérida’s ancient past to day trips to the most underrated sites in Yucatán; as well as an adventure to Mexico City where we will dive into some of the…
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Join us to explore the lesser-visited treasures of the Puuc
The focus of this expedition is to discover the wonders of some lesser-visited Maya Puuc sites, including seldom visited Chacmultún in the municipality of Tekax, as well as Labná and Sayil.
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The stunning pre-classical ancient city of Altun Há
The ancient city of Altun Há was once one of the most important Mayan cities in Northern Belize. Today it’s among the most visited attractions in this tiny Central American country, especially by cruisegoers arriving at Belize city’s nearby port.
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The many styles and influences of Maya architecture
The Maya are renowned for many achievements, but arguably their most enduring legacy is the remains of their architectural feats. Most folks associate Maya architecture with temples and pyramids, but ballcourts, astronomical observatories and elite residential palaces are often just as impressive. When we throw around the term Maya architecture, we should be talking about…
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New trails and better views of Xlapak’s amazing architecture
Xlapak has long been considered the “lesser” of all the Maya Puuc sites open to the public. Much of this has to do with the fact that for a long time, only a single restored structure was accessible to visitors. But thanks to recent improvements to the site’s infrastructure, new trails have been carved through…
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San Simón — Beyond Uxmal and Into the Wild
Ten miles south of Uxmal’s majestic ancient Puuc capital is San Simón, a tiny community where people live off the land, much like their Maya ancestors. In San Simón, cell phone service and amenities are limited to a small shop selling the basics. The nearest options for anything more than that are Muna or Santa…
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Monte Alban, lofty stronghold of the mighty Zapotec
Monte Alban was easily among the largest and most influential city-states during early Mesoamerican history. Established by the Zapotec civilization in the 5th century BCE, Monte Alban flourished for 1,500 years. Its eventual collapse coincides roughly with the fall of the great classic Maya city-states of the Petén, such as Tikal, over 800 miles away….
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Tahcabó: An ancient land where time stands still, parrots roam and honey flows
If you asked most people in Yucatán if they have ever heard of Tahcabó, you would unlikely get many nods. But for locals, Tahcabó is far from some random backwater but rather “an ancient gem, uncorrupted by time,” as described by 72-year-old Don Emilio, who has lived in the community of just under 400 people…
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Massive Stone Hieroglyph Panel Sheds New Light on the History of Cobá
The discovery of an extensive stone panel including 123 Maya hieroglyphs sheds light on previously unknown details about the ancient city of Cobá in Quintana Roo. The ancient stones tell of a previously unknown ruler of Cobá who went by the name of K’awiil Ch’ak Chéen. Thus, the K’awiil dynasty, now known to have comprised…
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El Caracol is not easy or cheap, but here’s why we’d go anyway
Caracol is a large ancient Mayan city located in Belize’s Cayo District and just a few kilometers from the Guatemalan border.
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The Temple of Masks: Unveiling Kohunlich’s Mysteries
If you hear howls coming from the nearby jungle, don’t be alarmed. The howler monkeys that inhabit the jungle are very peaceful.
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Comalcalco: Ancient Site is the Oddball of the Maya World
Unlike virtually every other Maya city or settlement, Comalcalco was built using bricks rather than limestone masonry.
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Xcoch is the Puuc Maya’s diamond in the rough
Exploring the rarely visited Mayan city of Xoch in the Puuc Valley.
That’s all for now
That’s all for now